Radio frequency energy device for delivering combined electrical signals

Abstract

An electrosurgical device may include a controller including an electrical generator, a surgical probe having a distal active electrode in electrical communication with an electrical source terminal of the electrical generator, and a return pad in electrical communication with an electrical return terminal of the electrical generator. The electrical generator may be configured to source an electrical current from the electrical source terminal, in which the electrical current combines characteristics of a therapeutic electrical signal and characteristics of an excitable tissue stimulating signal. The device may be configured to determine a distance from the electrode to an excitable tissue, based at least in part on an output signal generated by a sensing device in the pad. The device may also be configured to alter one or more characteristics of the therapeutic signal when the distance from the electrode to the tissue is less than a predetermined value.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A surgical hub, comprising:
 a surgical data network comprising a modular communication hub, wherein the modular communication hub comprises:
 a router; and 
 network modules communicatively coupled to the router, wherein each network module comprises a network hub and a network switch communicatively coupled to the network hub; and 
   a computer system communicatively coupled to the modular communication hub, wherein the computer system comprises:
 a processor communicatively coupled to the network modules; 
 a network interface; 
 a communication module; 
 a volatile memory; 
 a non-volatile memory; and 
 an interface module. 
   
     
     
         21 . The surgical hub of  claim 20 , wherein the network modules comprise:
 a primary network module communicatively coupled to the processor and the router; and   secondary network modules communicatively coupled to the primary network module.   
     
     
         22 . The surgical hub of  claim 21 , wherein each secondary network module is configured to communicatively couple to surgical modules in a surgical operating theater. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical hub of  claim 21 , where each secondary network module comprises a secondary network hub and a secondary network switch communicatively coupled to the secondary network hub, wherein:
 the secondary network hub is configured to communicatively couple to first surgical modules in a surgical operating theater; and   the secondary network switch is configured to communicatively couple to second surgical modules in the surgical operating theater.   
     
     
         24 . The surgical hub of  claim 23 , further comprising a display communicatively coupled to the secondary network hub and the secondary network switch. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical hub of  claim 20 , wherein the router is communicatively coupled to a cloud-based system that includes a remote server and a storage device coupled to the remote server. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical hub of  claim 25 , wherein the communication module is communicatively coupled to surgical modules, and wherein data associated with surgical modules is transmittable to:
 the cloud-based system, via the router, for remote data processing and manipulation; and   the computer system for local data processing and manipulation.   
     
     
         27 . The surgical hub of  claim 20 , wherein:
 each network hub is configured to send data to the router in the form of packets and work in a half duplex mode; and   each network switch is configured to send data to the router in the form of frames and work in a full duplex mode.   
     
     
         28 . The surgical hub of  claim 20 , further comprising a display communicatively coupled to the interface module. 
     
     
         29 . A surgical hub, comprising:
 a surgical data network comprising a modular communication hub, wherein the modular communication hub comprises:
 a router; 
 a primary network module communicatively coupled to the router, wherein the primary network module comprises a primary network hub and a primary network switch in communication with the primary network hub; and 
 secondary network modules communicatively coupled to the primary network module, wherein each secondary network module comprises a secondary network hub and a secondary network switch in communication with the secondary network hub; and 
   a computer system communicatively coupled to the modular communication hub, wherein the computer system comprises:
 a processor communicatively coupled to the primary network module; 
 a network interface; 
 a communication module; 
 a volatile memory; 
 a non-volatile memory; and 
 an interface module. 
   
     
     
         30 . The surgical hub of  claim 29 , wherein each secondary network module is configured to communicatively couple to surgical modules in a surgical operating theater. 
     
     
         31 . The surgical hub of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the secondary network hub is configured to communicatively couple to first surgical modules in a surgical operating theater; and   the secondary network switch is configured to communicatively couple to second surgical modules in the surgical operating theater.   
     
     
         32 . The surgical hub of  claim 29 , further comprising a display communicatively coupled to the secondary network hub and the secondary network switch. 
     
     
         33 . The surgical hub of  claim 29 , wherein the router is communicatively coupled to a cloud-based system that includes a remote server and a storage device coupled to the remote server. 
     
     
         34 . The surgical hub of  claim 33 , wherein the communication module is communicatively coupled to surgical modules, and wherein data associated with surgical modules is transmittable to:
 the cloud-based system, via the router, for remote data processing and manipulation; and   the computer system for local data processing and manipulation.   
     
     
         35 . The surgical hub of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the primary network hub and the secondary network hubs are configured to send data to the router in the form of packets and work in a half duplex mode; and   the primary network switch and the secondary network switches are configured to send data to the router in the form of frames and work in a full duplex mode.   
     
     
         36 . The surgical hub of  claim 29 , further comprising a display communicatively coupled to the interface module. 
     
     
         37 . A surgical system, comprising:
 a display; and   a surgical hub communicatively coupled to the display, wherein the surgical hub comprises:
 a surgical data network comprising a modular communication hub, wherein the modular communication hub comprises:
 a router; 
 a primary network module communicatively coupled to the router, wherein the primary network module comprises a primary network hub and a primary network switch in communication with the primary network hub; and 
 a secondary network module communicatively coupled to the primary network module and surgical modules, wherein the secondary network module comprises a secondary network hub and a secondary network switch in communication with the secondary network hub; and 
 
 a computer system communicatively coupled to the modular communication hub, wherein the computer system comprises:
 a processor communicatively coupled to the primary network module; 
 a network interface; 
 a communication module; 
 a volatile memory; 
 a non-volatile memory; and 
 an interface module. 
 
   
     
     
         38 . The surgical system of  claim 37 , wherein the router is communicatively coupled to a cloud-based system, and wherein data associated with surgical modules is transmittable to:
 the cloud-based system, via the router, for remote data processing and manipulation; and   the computer system for local data processing and manipulation.   
     
     
         39 . The surgical system of  claim 37 , wherein:
 the primary network hub the secondary network hub are configured to send data to the router in the form of packets and work in a half duplex mode; and   the primary network switch and the secondary network switch are configured to send data to the router in the form of frames and work in a full duplex mode.